Between economy and economics: biopiracy and Malaysian orangutans

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is currently finalizing an agreement on an “international legal instrument” that aims to enhance the effectiveness, transparency, and quality of the patent system. Developing countries are hopeful that this agreement will help reduce biopiracy, which involves the taking over and patenting of products based on the flora, fauna, knowledge, and culture of local communities by wealthier Western countries. Additionally, databases covering traditional knowledge and cultural expression will be established.

In response to accusations of biodiversity destruction, the Malaysian authorities plan to showcase the orangutans’ habitats to countries that import palm oil. As the world’s second-largest palm oil producer after Indonesia, Malaysia aims to bolster its credibility as a protector of biodiversity. Orangutans are critically endangered, partly due to the production of palm oil.

In Papua New Guinea, biodiesel produced from coconuts—specifically from copra, which is coconut pulp—is being used as a cost-effective alternative to imported fuel. This biodiesel powers local schools, hospitals, and cargo ships, and the PNG University of Technology is exploring broader applications for it. The production process involves extracting the oil from copra, mixing it with lye and alcohol, and subjecting it to chemical processes.